William Talbot
He was a boot and shoe maker.
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
William was born in Nottingham in 1870 (JAS/Hughes) although his service record gives his date of birth as 15 June 1871.
William was the son of William and Elizabeth (née Hughes). His father William was born in 1826 at East Markham, Nottinghamshire, and his mother Elizabeth was born in 1832 in Nottingham They were married on 17 May 1848 at St Stephen's Church, Sneinton, Nottingham, and probably had 13 children: Richard b. 1849, Eliza b. 1851, Thomas b. 1852, Ann b. 1855, Mary b. 1856, Elizabeth (Lissey) b. 1858, Kate b. 1861, Clara b. 1861, Elizabeth (Betsy) Maria b. 1863, Ellen b. 1865, Emma b. 1868, William b. 1870 and Arthur b. 1872.
William jnr. married Ellen Gardner on 18 January 1888. Ellen (Nellie) was born in Nottingham in 1872 (AMJ), the daughter of Thomas and Mary Ann Gardner (née Barrows m. 1865). Her father died in 1878 aged 44, and in 1881 her widowed mother, a lace finisher, her son William (18 b. abt 1863) a litho printer, and Ellen (9) were living at 3 Ristes Place, Nottingham. Mary Ann Gardner married Henry Mason in 1883 (AMJ).
William and Ellen had seven children, six of whom died in infancy or early childhood. Their surviving child, Richard, was born in 1890 (OND) and baptised at Sneinton St Albion on 21 December the same year. His six siblings were: Sarah Florence b. 1889 (JFM) bap. 5 May 1889 St Paul d. 1889 (JAS); Wallace Henry b. 1892 (reg. JAS Newark) d. 1894 (AMJ); Lilian b. 1894 (OND) d. 1894 (OND); Ellen birth reg. 1896 (JFM) bap. St Mark 10 June 1896 d. 1900 (OND); Olive birth reg. 1898 (JFM) d. 1900 (OND).
According to the baptismal records, William and Ellen were living on Woolpack Lane in May 1889, 1 Carey's Place in 1890 and 11 Castle Court in June 1896.
William has not yet been traced on the 1891 Census, but Ellen, a box maker, and their son Richard (u/1y), were living with Ellen's mother Mary and stepfather Henry Mason, a tailor, at 34 Sneinton Road, Nottingham.
The couple's first child, Sarah, born in 1889, had died the same year. Their other five children, a son and four daughters, were born between 1892 and 1898; the two youngest, Ellen and Olive, both died in 1900 (OND).
In 1901, William, a shoemaker, and Ellen, a cardboard box maker, were living at 252 Alfred Street Central with their son Richard and William's father, William Talbot (75), who was also a shoe maker. William snr. was a widower, his wife Elizabeth having died earlier that year at the age of 69. William snr. died in 1908 aged 82.
William (40), a boot and shoe maker, Ellen (39) and Richard (20), a labourer, were living at 12 Peas Hill Road, St Ann's, in 1911.
Ellen Talbot was living at 8 Wrigley's Terrace, St. Ann’s Well Road, at the time of her husband's death in February 1916. She was awarded a pension of 15 shillings a week, first payment made 1 March 1917.
Their son Richard was killed in action on 1 July 1916. (See 'Extra information')
Private William Talbot served with the Sherwood Foresters Regiment before transferring to Royal Marines Light Infantry, Chatham Battalion.
William enlisted on 9 September 1914 and transferred to RMLI on 16 September 1914 on a short-service engagement.
He joined the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force for Gallipoli on 6 February 1915 and on 9 May 1915 suffered gunshot wounds to the left shoulder, side and face. William was invalided to the UK on 2 July 1915. He died in a Royal Naval Hospital from his wounds and of disease on 20 February 1916 and was interred in Gillingham (Woodland) Cemetery, Kent on 23 February. (Grave ref. Naval. 22. 1144). The history of the Cemetery suggests that he was being treated at the Royal Naval Hospital, Windmill Road, Gillingham, at the time of his death.
He qualified for the 1914/15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
The Royal Naval Hospital, Gillingham, opened in 1905. It transferred to the NHS in 1961 and was renamed 'Medway Maritime Hospital in 1999. (www.medway.nhs.uk/about-us/our-history)
CWGC History of Gillingham (Woodland) Cemetery, Kent (extract): 'Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery contains 837 burials and commemorations of the First World War, 82 of these burials are unidentified. There is a large naval section in Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery which was reserved by the Admiralty and served the Royal Naval Hospital in Windmill Road ... The section contains most of the war graves as well as burials of the pre-war and inter-war years.' (www.cwgc.org)
Talbot was one of 'Kitchener's Marines' who were transferred from the Sherwood Foresters to the RMLI. Des Turner notes '600 RMLI transfers came from 2 regiments - 200 from the King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry (KOYLI) and 400 from the Sherwood Foresters. They were predominantly ex-miners and labourers, fit men wanted for their ability to dig trenches and tunnels. The 200 KOYLI recruits were transferred to Plymouth Division RMLI and were given service numbers PLY/1(S) to PLY200(S). This was also the case for the Sherwood Foresters 200 who were dispatched to Portsmouth where already 30 men were recruited and so they became PO/31(S) to PO/230(S). 200 remaining Foresters went to Chatham and were numbered CH/1 to CH/200(S).'
His son, Private Richard Talbot, served with the 1st Battalion Border Regiment. He was killed in action on 1 July 1916, the first day of the battle of the Somme, and is buried in Y Ravine Cemetery Beaumont-Hamel. (See record on this Roll of Honour)
Nottingham Evening Post, 8 March 1916. Photograph with caption, 'Pte W Talbot, RMLI, Wrigley’s Terrace, St Ann’s Well Road, Nottingham, died February 20th of wounds received in Gallipoli.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 22 & 23 February 1916: ‘Talbot. On the 20th, from wounds received in Dardanelles, William Talbot, late of Wrigley’s-terrace, St Ann’s Well-road. From wife and sisters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Roll of Honour’, 23 February 1916: ‘Talbot. On the 20th, Wm Talbot RM Gillingham Hospital, Chatham, from effect of wounds received in action. Interment Chatham, Wednesday 3pm. From his loving nephews and nieces.’
(www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
William's widow was awarded a pension of 15 shillings a week, first payment 1 March 1917.
Additional research and information Peter Gillings. Additional research/record updated, RF (Oct. 2026)
Wiliam Talbot
Nottingham Evening Post, 8 March 1916. Courtesy Jim Grundy facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918